It’s been said that everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die. I’ve found the same to be true about marriage. Everybody wants to be married but no one wants to do the work. Having been married nearly 21 years I’m often asked how we make it work. Here’s the secret: Marriage isn’t…
I remember laying awake at night, penning names for the child within. She was my third and I wanted a name that would inspire, encourage, and create courage! I wanted her chosen name to remind her that with God, she could conquer anything. I wanted her to know the story behind her name. That baby…
Becoming a woman of bold faith is not about perfectly checked church attendance, how much you volunteer, having the best snacks for life groups or having all the answers in Bible study. A bold woman of faith has real, bold, Jesus-glorifying, heart-wrenching, deep-in-the-trenches and fight for God’s truths in the midst of the lies, kind of belief.
Tearing and mending is the best way to describe death and loss and I’m learning we can’t really put life back together again until we’ve faced the coming apart.
As I wandered from room to room, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, I realized marriage sometimes feels like this house. Familiar, comfortable, yet tight and wholly uncomfortable. And the very idea of opening a door to my husband feels like a vulnerable and risky move. Keeping the storm windows shut feels like a much safer venture. Especially after a fight or misunderstanding or hurt feelings. Keeping everything sealed feels much softer. During times of conflict our hearts close up, it curls itself into a tight ball. A closed heart is stuffed with selfishness, faulty assumptions, and judgement.
My daughter is an artist. She’s been drawing, coloring, sketching and creating since she was a toddler. Sunday mornings are no different. She doesn’t come to church with just her Bible. She comes armed with her sketchbook, pens, and pencils. As the Paster preaches the message, she listens and creates. Sometimes it is version after…